Middle E out of tune

[JPrince]

Hi! I just got my "new" The Martin Baritone, serial 202,XXX and she sounds great! I love it. But sadly, the middle E is grossly out of tune, and I can't fix it. Everything else is fine but that one note. What could cause it? I didn't see any noticeable shipping damage, but then again I was so exited I might not have thoroughly gone over it. My Jazz Band director says he thinks my "Octave key is banging it" What does that mean? Anyways, do any of you guys have any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

[MPL]

Let me guess...that middle E is quite sharp, isn't it?

According to everyone I've ever asked, the middle D through F on The Martin baritones are usually sharp to some amount. It's got nothing to do with an octave key...it's a design issue.

The way around it? A couple of experts told me that the notes can be tuned by adding a very small amount of sheet cork around the top edge of the inside of the next tonehole. This effectively "lowers" the tonehole, lowering the pitch of the next note up. So to lower the pitch on that middle E, you'd add that cork to the top inside edge of the D tonehole. My tech here in Seattle coached me through the operation (didn't have time to take it down to his shop) and it worked quite well. The D, E, and F on my the Martin are much better in tune, although the E is definitely a little stuffier than the others.

I've also heard from the owner of a low A Magna baritone that his tech made metal discs that were soldered into the toneholes to achieve the same result.

Email me if you'd like to see pictures - zrspilot@yahoo.com.

[JPrince]

You hit it right on the head exactly. So its a design issue huh? Hrm... this does prove "intersting" to say the least. I don't get it, the D and F are fine, but that E is way out there. Well, let me phone a tech here in town and see if they can do it, and if they can't I'll email you for some pics. heh heh, maybe you could coach me. I really hope that is all it is, or rather something that is even easier to fix, because except for those notes, this thing is awsome. Well, thanks for the info, and I will probably be emailing you soon!

Justin Prince